UMKM Entrepreneurs in Bandar Lampung Benefit from PGN’s Gas Network

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) in Lampung, especially in Bandar Lampung, are increasingly benefiting from the presence of PGN's Natural Gas Network (Jargas) as a subholding of Pertamina Gas, which has proven to be more economical, saving between 30 to 50 percent.

This was shared by Dimas, the owner of the Sate Utami outlet in Wayhalim, who switched to PGN’s Jargas two months ago. Speaking at his outlet, he confirmed that the difference in consumption between LPG and Jargas was significant.

He explained that his Sate Utami outlet used to consume one or more 12-kg LPG cylinders per day. However, this was less economical because the gas remaining in the cylinder couldn’t be used due to low pressure, even though the flame remained on the stove. The gas was wasted.

"Since our outlet started using PGN Gas two months ago, the difference in cost has averaged 30 to 50 percent, with current usage around 2 million IDR per month, compared to 4-5 million IDR before. From a business standpoint, this is clearly advantageous, especially since it’s simple to use and there’s no need to replace cylinders," said the bespectacled man on Monday (July 29, 2024).

Additionally, the flame produced by the stove is larger, allowing food to cook faster and be served more quickly to customers. He admitted there had been no major issues so far, and any concerns were promptly addressed by PGN staff.

Sate Utami Wayhalim, located on Jalan Arif Rahman Hakim, has been in operation since 2015 and is open from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM. It experiences peak customer traffic during lunch and dinner hours, offering a variety of dishes such as tongseng, gule, and sop. The outlet also accepts online orders through various applications.

PGN Lampung Area Head Ahmad Abrar said that the Sate Utami outlet was previously registered as a residential customer, but due to the customer’s business needs, PGN made adjustments to the installation to provide the necessary pressure for commercial use.

"Previously, this outlet was registered as a residential Jargas customer, but the pressure of the flame was different. So, we upgraded the installation to meet the needs of UMKM customers, with a minimum usage of 500 m³ per month," said Abrar.

In 2024, PGN Lampung has already received 21 subscription requests from UMKM customers, with 11 still in process. These customers are mainly located in areas served by the gas pipeline, such as Telukbetung Utara, Tanjungkarang Pusat, Tanjungkarang Barat, Kedaton, Labuhan Ratu, Wayhalim, and others.

However, for UMKM customers in areas not yet served by PGN’s gas pipeline, there is no need to be discouraged. PGN, through PT Gagas Energi Indonesia (Gagas), has also introduced the Gaslink C-Cyl product, which offers Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for industrial and commercial customers, delivered in cylinders with a capacity of 20-25 m³ or equivalent to 20 kg.

The Gaslink Cylinder will further expand the use of natural gas, especially for customers not yet reached by the gas pipeline, including industries, commercial sectors, and UMKM, enabling them to benefit from the advantages of natural gas.

This advantage has also caught the attention of Dimas, who owns several other Sate Utami outlets in Natar and Kemiling. He is interested and enthusiastic about becoming a customer of the Gaslink Cylinder because he has already experienced the benefits of Jargas at his Wayhalim outlet.

In addition to the considerable gas consumption—using 3-4 cylinders of 12 kg per day—he is optimistic that the Gaslink Cylinder could make it even easier to manage operations. His outlets in Natar and Kemiling are also expected to become customers.

"The Cylinder program is quite economical, and everything is under contract or rental, including installation and meters, all provided by PGN," said Abrar.

PGN Lampung’s Area Head Ahmad also mentioned that while the UMKM sector in Lampung is already quite established, they aim to further boost the contribution volume in the next six months. "For the areas already covered by the gas pipeline, we hope they can benefit from it. Going forward, we will target as many new connections as possible, especially for UMKM customers," he said.

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